Driver Education Initiative – Why Is Driver Safety So Important?

While
teens often look forward to driving for the freedom it gives,
oftentimes they neglect to think of the safety precautions to take.
Safety is the biggest concern of many parents because teens often
think they are invincible.

Every
year, thousands of people are killed in car accidents; even more, are
injured in accidents. In 2018 alone, there were an estimated 40,000
car accident-related deaths and approximately 4.5 million people
seriously injured in car accidents. By educating drivers, especially
new drivers, about these statistics and dangers, you can greatly
reduce the number of car accidents in the coming years. As with many
other things in life, teens, especially, are not given the facts and
information they need to understand the harsh reality of unsafe
driving. Many newly licensed teens will get behind the steering wheel
without fully understanding how important it is to wear a seatbelt,
follow the speed limit, and watch other drivers as well. By offering
classes on these subjects, teens and adults alike will all benefit
and are safer drivers in the end. Along with education, offering
places to stop along the highway could greatly decrease the number of
accidents. Many people end up in accidents after driving while tired.
Driving while tired is extremely dangerous because sleepiness affects
the way your brain processes things. These stops could also prevent
distracted driving. By giving a spot for someone to stop, people are
less likely to text, eat, or even fall asleep while driving.

I,
personally, have been involved in many dangerous situations while in
a vehicle with an unsafe driver. My mother has been known to drive
distracted every time she gets into a vehicle. One time, in
particular, was when my youngest sister was only a few months old. My
mother, my two baby sisters, my brother, and I were all on our way
home one night when my mother decided to pick up her phone to text.
Because she was also tired, she ran off the road and into a row of
mailboxes. We were taken to the hospital to be checked out to make
sure we did not sustain any injuries. Due to this event, I am very
concerned about car safety and always being a safe driver.

Because
it is important to me to be a safe driver, I have taken steps to
drive safely and to help others become safer as well. I have done
much research and educated myself, as well as others, about being a
safe driver. I also regularly practice these habits and help to
remind my friends to practice safe driving habits as well. While in
the car, I give my phone to my passenger, so I am not tempted to use
it. I also wait until I am home to eat any food I have gotten. Being
a safe driver has not only made my life much less risky, but it has
also made me have less anxiety about being on the roads.